My Jesus, Fair: Notes and Discussion

Below are links and doctrinal notes for the hymn My Jesus, Fair by Chris Anderson and Greg Habegger. Feel free to chime in with comments or questions.

_____

LINKS FOR MY JESUS, FAIR

Full Page / Half Page / Modulation / Text / MP3 / Octavo

_____

DOCTRINAL NOTES

Because God delights in worship that is biblical, thoughtful and passionate—what we often call intentional—please consider the following overview of the biblical texts and theological themes behind the hymn My Jesus, Fair:

Verse 1 focuses on the irony that the curse which was given by God (pictured by the thorns of Genesis 3:18) was actually borne by God at Calvary (pictured by the crown of thorns).

The chorus expresses wonder at the sacrifice of the Son of God on our behalf, to which we respond with both joy and grief—abhorring our sin and adoring our Savior.

Verse 2 focuses on the scorn heaped upon our Lord at His trial and death, contrasting it with His silence and prayer for their (and our) forgiveness in Luke 23:34.

Verse 3 alludes to Colossians 2:14, where Scripture uses the powerful picture of God nailing our sins to the cross even as sinners nailed His Son to the cross.

Verse 4 is really the pinnacle of the hymn, expressing wonder at the doctrine of propitiation—that God was pleased to crush His Son and satisfied by His atoning death (Isaiah 53:10-11). It is worth considering that while we generally think in terms of the suffering of Christ, the wrath poured upon Him and the breaking of fellowship must have been infinitely grievous to the Father and Spirit, as well. The verse concludes with an allusion to Christ’s being made sin for us from 2 Corinthians 5:21. The more we meditate on the doctrine of propitiation, the more amazed we will be. It is glorious.

Verse 5 rejoices in Christ’s slaying death by His resurrection and anticipates His glorious return. “Even so, come, Lord Jesus!” (Revelation 22:20)

(The notes for My Jesus, Fair were written by Chris Anderson.)

Tags: Chris Anderson, ChurchWorksMedia.com, Greg Habegger, Modern Hymns, My Jesus Fair